The epidemiology of injuries in Atlanta day-care centers
J. J. Sacks, J. D. Smith, K. M. Kaplan, D. A. Lambert, R. W. Sattin and R. K. Sikes
Division of Injury Epidemiology and Control, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
From June 1987 through May 1988, we collected reports of injuries among
5300 children who attended 71 day-care centers in Atlanta, Ga. One hundred
forty-three injuries severe enough for the child to require medical or
dental care were reported, including 63 lacerations (44.1%), 23 fractures
(16.1%), 5 crush injuries (3.5%), 4 dislocations (2.8%), 2 human bites
(1.4%), and 2 concussions (1.4%). The head was the site of 98 (68.5%)
injuries. Peak hours for injuries were 11 AM and 4 PM, the peak day was
Monday, and the peak season was summer. After adjustment for hours and
dates of attendance, the rate was 1.77 injuries per 100,000 child-hours in
day care; among preschool-aged children, infants had the lowest rate (0.77)
and 2-year-old children had the highest rate (2.26). Almost 47% of injuries
occurred on the playground; falls were involved in 70% of such injuries.
Because 33% of all injuries resulted from falls on the playground,
impact-absorbing playground surfaces may be a possible intervention to
reduce injuries.
